The Student Health Promotion and Education Department co-sponsored a series of weeklong events in celebration of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. This year's theme is to "be comfortable in your genes."
Some of the sponsored events were a jeans display in the Student Center across from the food court on Feb. 25-29. In some of the bathrooms in the General Classroom Building facts about eating disorders were placed on the mirrors. The movie Supersize Me was shown in the Speaker's Auditorium on Feb 26.
There were two different Lunch-N-Learn sessions. Feb. 27 discussed Eating Disorders in college men, and the second on Feb.28 discussed our culture and eating disorders. On Feb. 29 in concordance to this year's theme, is celebrated as Jean Day where the faculty and staff wore jean.
Students were given a chance to donate their jeans that no longer fit during this past week to the Department of Health and Promotion located in the Student Center Suite 350.
People with eating disorders can find varied resources to cope with individual needs or information for a loved one that may be suffering from an eating disorder. Dominique Doyle, a graduate assistant in the Student Health Promotion and Education Department says that the National Eating Disorders Association is the largest not-for-profit organization in the United States working to prevent eating disorders and provide treatment referrals to those suffering from anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders as well as those concerned with body image and weight issues.
NEDA is dedicated to expanding public understanding and prevention of eating disorders and promoting access to quality treatment for those affected along with support for their families through education, advocacy and research.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association as many as 10 million females and one million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia in the United States. NEDA says that in the United States eating disorders are more common than Alzheimer's disease.
Eating disorders count for five to 10 million people compared to Alzheimer's that counts for four million people, however there is inadequate funding for eating disorders. Eating disorders research is 75 percent less than that of Alzheimer's disease. In 2005 the National Institute of Health (NIH) funded $12 million to anorexia nervosa disorders research and $647 million to Alzheimer's research.
Since eating disorders are less funded than other disorders and diseases it is up to the people to educate themselves. NEDA stresses that every body is different due to each individual's genetic makeup. If every individual ate the same thing and had the same exercise regimen people would still look different from one another because of the difference in each person's genetics. This is due to the fact that genetics defines each individual's bone structure, body size, shape, and weight differently.
The main idea is to have an ideal and healthy body weight. A person's ideal body weight is determined individually by a weight that makes a person feel strong and energetic and lets that person lead a healthy and normal life. NEDA suggests when finding your ideal weight to not rely on charts, formulas or tables, but to do what is right for you. Eat balanced meals full of nutritious foods, get enough rest and enjoy regular, moderate exercise. All these things will help you reach your ideal weight and be able to maintain it in the long run.
The Atlanta area offers many helpful care facilities that a person can go to as well to get the adequate help that they need. Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders offers partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment, and traditional outpatient treatment services.
There is group, individual, and family therapies with staff members that are highly trained and have expertise in their field of work. Visit their website at www.eatingdisorders.home.mindspring.com and for more information about eating disorders in general visit NEDA's website www.nationaleatingdisorders.org; visit the Georgia State University Counseling Center at 106 Courtland St. located beside the Sports Arena for more information
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